Since he was a young boy, Doc Nielsen has had a heart for animals. People would liken him to “Dr. Dolittle,” because of his fascination for all living creatures, from domesticated pets to wild animals. With over 30 years of veterinary experience, Donato is now known as one of the top veterinarians in the country. He is the managing partner and chief surgeon at VIP. When he’s not in the clinic, he co-hosts “Born to be Wild,” a weekly wildlife documentary on GMA7, and helps run the Laguna Wildlife Park & Rescue Center in Pansol.

At VIP, Doc Nielsen usually spends the whole day meeting animal patients. He would often do general check-ups, where he does a thorough assessment of the animal’s face, coat and skin, blood, and other important areas to spot signs of infection.

Before starting the check-up, Doc Nielsen would first greet owners as they enter the consultation room and ask their pet’s name. He also asks about the pet’s character to get a feel of how they behave. Based on his experience, he says that dogs are usually easier to examine because they’re used to human interaction, while cats can be challenging. His general rule is to just be patient with all animals.

“You have to help them feel confident, relaxed, and just hold them gently,” he says. “You have to make sure that their check-ups won’t be traumatizing for them.”

Treating animals with love and compassion

Established in 2003, VIP was started in response to a growing need for professional and compassionate pet healthcare. After two decades, it’s grown to four main hospitals and two subsidiary clinics that offer pet care and veterinary medicine for dogs, cats, birds, and exotic animals.

As one of VIP’s managing partners, Doc Nielsen experienced firsthand just how far the animal clinic has gone. He details that whenever they would do blood tests back in the day, the samples would be sent to a human laboratory and they had to wait at least a day for the results. “Kami ang unang nag-invest ng sariling machines specifically for animals. We can now get results within 30 minutes,” Doc Nielsen says.

“We wanted to reduce the waiting. The longer pet owners have to wait for results, the more anxious they become about their pets’ condition,” he adds, emphasizing that all of their files are digital as well.

VIP has surgery rooms with all the tools veterinarians would need to perform routine and complicated surgeries. This is also where they conduct x-rays.

The clinic has a confinement area for animals who are recovering from illnesses and/or injuries. Pregnant animals can also stay and give birth in this area. Newborn animals will be placed in incubators to keep them warm and ensure that they develop fully and healthily.

“In our Mandaluyong branch, we also have accommodations for pet parents, in case they want to watch over their confined fur babies,” Doc Nielsen relates.

Exotic animal patients

One of the perks of working at VIP is veterinarians get the chance to see and treat animals one wouldn’t see every day. The clinic has big kennels at the back that would sometimes have goats, horses, and big birds in them. “You’ll see all sorts of animals, from house pets to zoo animals. Everyone gets excited,” Donato says.

In the show that Doc Nielsen co-hosts, he often interacts with wild animals with courage. This is the same confidence and compassion he shows the animals at the Laguna Wildlife Park & Rescue Center, which he calls his “happy place.”

In VIP, there are also animals that are a mix of both domestic and wild, like Tigger the Savannah cat. This hybrid is the result of crossbreeding between a Serval and a domestic cat, making the Savannah bigger than the regular house cat.

Although they may act like a normal house pet, Savannahs like Tigger may not be as cooperative as domesticated cats. “If you decide to keep a pet like this, they’re not as calm because they still have that wild side to them. If you have smaller pets like hamsters, birds, or fish, you have to secure them because the Savannah’s hunter instincts are still there,” Doc Nielsen says.

Being a veterinarian can be quite challenging, especially when one has to work with different animals with varying needs every day. Fortunately, Doc Nielsen and the VIP staff are able to offer the best possible care with advanced technology and facilities, allowing them to fulfill their duty.

“We really invested in the clinic, even with the interior design. We wanted it to be the prime area na madaling puntahan with comfortable rooms where owners with dogs and cats won’t feel stressed,” says Doc Nielsen.

Teaching surpasses the realms of jobs or professions–it encompasses service, vocation, and life mission.

Proving this day and night are millions of Filipino teachers who stand as second mothers to students. One of them is Rosalie Macaspac, an SM scholar alumna who chose to pursue a career in Special Education (SPED).

Life’s work

Choosing to teach, especially pursue SPED, is a path less travelled. Out of over 800,000 public school teachers, only about 4,000 are in SPED, and Rosalie is one of the few who took the path. For 21 years now, the SM scholar alumna has dedicated her life to teaching SPED students. She wanted to empower and give special children a voice by advocating the welfare of deaf learners.

Rosalie Macaspac (left) interprets the contents of the program for her students.

With much dedication and determination to have the right skills for her students, she pursued graduate studies in special education and Filipino sign language at the Philippine National University and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, respectively.

She currently teaches at the Philippine School for the Deaf in Pasay, the only government-owned institution for the deaf in the country. Here, she spearheaded the numeracy skills training program for deaf learners.

Embedding grit, greatness

Her journey to becoming an educator was not easy. Her parents separated when she was three years old, and her mother became the breadwinner.

“In the early years of my life as a three year old, awareness of how hard life is became a part of my growing up. I grew up with a mindset that whatever happens, I will not abandon my studies. Sensing my determination, my mother earned a living by washing and ironing clothes of our neighbors. I came to realize my mom had to wash and press thousands and thousands of clothes so I could finish my studies. But I did not pity myself. Instead, I kept a strong determination to battle on and promised my mother that she will not grow old and die as a laundry woman,” she said.

The weight on their shoulder became heavier when her mother became bedridden for half a year. Instead of slowing her down, it did the opposite. She continued her studies with much determination. With the help of her uncle, the Missionaries of Charity, and the puto bigas she sold, they could get by.

She finished primary school with good grades, and was a consistent honor student in high school, despite having one centavo allowance and rice and coffee as meals. With good standing, she had her mind set on her next goal: going to college.

“Giving up or surrendering wasn’t in my vocabulary. The strong heart of my mother was passed on to me as she was my inspiration to strive to get us out of the predicament we were in,” she stressed.

“When I was in fourth year high school, I was deep in thought of what to do to support my college education. Then, God in all His goodness, stepped in again. The Guidance Office in our school announced that the SM Foundation was offering scholarships for qualified students. I knew at that very moment that He was with me. All I had to do is to apply for the scholarship,” she recalled.

Rosalie (fifth from left) and her fellow scholar alumni take a photo with SMIC Executive Director Harley Sy (third from left)

She vividly remembers sending her SM College Scholarship program application at the Customer Service of the SM in Quiapo and how she learned on May 9, 1995 that she would be interviewed for the scholarship in room 214 of the MSE Bldg. The three-digit number has since become unforgettable for her. By June 1995, Macaspac was among the SM scholars who had started their college education under the scholarship program.

According to her, the scholarship helped her become a well-rounded individual. It was the key to the realization of her dreams and paved the way to success. The activities provided by SM Foundation, such as the scholars’ assembly, the orientation, leadership training, sports fest and annual retreat, were very memorable for her.

“Looking back, the retreats, monthly meetings and being able to work in SM as an employee, followed up by our project director boosted my self-esteem and opened my world to service,” she said.

Rosalie at the Philippine School for the Deaf

Before teaching, she first worked as a Merchandise and Planning Control-Clerk at the SM Head Office, which was then located in Calle Echague, Manila. She was hired immediately after college.

Working in DepEd has always been her dream, and she is proud of where she is today: “Since day one of my college days, I aimed to be a public-school teacher. I am happy with my work now as a High School Teacher for Deaf learners. I am so privileged that I am in this community and my heart is entwined with my students.”

“I am not ashamed to tell my colleagues that I had a humble beginning and I thank SM Foundation for putting me where I am now. I owe these blessings to SM, Henry “Tatang” Sy, SM Foundation, Ma’am Nilda Bernaldez, and my fellow SM-Scholars, most especially, my mother. They are all the instruments to why I chose to give back to a special community and dedicate my life to being an effective SPED teacher.”

This year's Earth Hour is all about "creating the Biggest Hour for Earth," and those who want to participate in the global activity are encouraged to spend 60 minutes doing something positive for the planet, in addition to switching off their lights.

SM Supermalls has been supporting Earth Hour and the WWF since the initiative was first held in the Philippines in 2008. This year, customers, tenants and employees at SM malls nationwide are once again encouraged to “Give an Hour for Earth” as SM Supermalls joins the annual Global Lights Switch Off from 8:30 PM to 9:30PM on March 25.

This day also marks the start of the World Wildlife Fund’s Virtual Earth Hour Run, a self-paced run supported by SM Cares, to be held from March 25 to April 30, 2023. The run aligns with SM Supermalls’ bid to make “Earth Hour, Any Hour” as participants are encouraged to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle by running and win prizes along the way. Joiners may register here and tag SM Cares and WWF as they post their stopovers at SM malls with hashtag #BiggestHourForEarth and #EarthHourVirtualRun.

Aside from these, SM Supermalls has been pushing to minimize its carbon footprint in support of the global green movement through various programs ranging from responsible energy consumption to investing in renewable energy.

For instance, more than 50 percent of the energy consumed by SM malls all over the country now come from renewable sources. In terms of solar energy usage, SM now has 12 malls equipped with energized solar panels, with SM Mall of Asia as the latest mall to receive a solar panel installation, which has a capacity of 2.003 MWp.

SM has also been recognized for exceeding compliance with RA7920 or the New Electrical Engineering Law, which regulates the practice, licensing, and registration of electrical engineers and electricians. This is proof that SM is operated and maintained only by highly qualified engineers.

SM Cares' sustainability initiatives include the Trash-To-Cash Market and the Plastic Waste Collection program, which encourage responsible solid waste disposal among Filipinos; the annual Green Film Festival which promotes environmental awareness among students and the youth; and the International Coastal Cleanup which encourages stakeholders to do their part in keeping our seas and oceans clean.

SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, the country’s biggest chain of malls built by one of Southeast Asia’s leading real estate developer, SM Prime Holdings. It is responsible for initiatives that promote sustainability and the development of the community, including programs on Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, and Children and Youth, as well as the Bike-Friendly SM initiative, in addition to its Programs on Environment.

To learn more, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares.